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Holding Strong
Lori Foster
An up-and-coming MMA fighter wants more than just one night from a woman fleeing her past in New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster's irresistible new novelHeavyweight fighter Denver Lewis plays real nice, but he doesn't share. That's why he's been avoiding top-notch flirt Cherry Peyton. But a man can only resist those lush curves for so long. Their encounter surpasses all his fantasies, bringing out protective urges that Cherry's about to need more than she knows…Denver's combination of pure muscle and unexpected tenderness has been driving Cherry wild. Yet no sooner does she get what she's been craving than old troubles show up on her doorstep. And this time, Cherry can't hide behind a carefree facade. Because the man by her side is one who'll fight like hell to keep her safe…if only she'll trust him enough to let him…
An up-and-coming MMA fighter wants more than just one night from a woman fleeing her past in New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster’s irresistible new novel
Heavyweight fighter Denver Lewis plays real nice, but he doesn’t share. That’s why he’s been avoiding top-notch flirt Cherry Peyton. But a man can only resist those lush curves for so long. Their encounter surpasses all his fantasies, bringing out protective urges that Cherry’s about to need more than she knows…
Denver’s combination of pure muscle and unexpected tenderness has been driving Cherry wild. Yet no sooner does she get what she’s been craving than old troubles show up on her doorstep. And this time, Cherry can’t hide behind a carefree facade. Because the man by her side is one who’ll fight like hell to keep her safe…if only she’ll trust him enough to let him…
Praise for New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster (#ulink_6a09814f-9b81-5800-9008-e6e44781e13d)
“Readers will be thrilled with Foster’s new sexy batch of fight club heroes and the women who love them.”
—Kirkus Reviews on No Limits
“Storytelling at its best! Lori Foster should be on everyone’s auto-buy list.”
—#1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon on No Limits
“Foster’s writing satisfies all appetites with plenty of searing sexual tension and page-turning action in this steamy, edgy, and surprisingly tender novel.”
—Publishers Weekly on Getting Rowdy
“Foster hits every note (or power chord) of the true alpha male hero.”
—Publishers Weekly on Bare It All
“A sexy, believable roller coaster of action and romance.”
—Kirkus Reviews on Run the Risk
“Bestseller Foster…has an amazing ability to capture a man’s emotions and lust with sizzling sex scenes and meld it with a strong woman’s point of view.”
—Publishers Weekly on A Perfect Storm
“Foster rounds out her searing trilogy with a story that tilts toward the sizzling and sexy side of the genre.”
—RT Book Reviews on Savor the Danger
“The fast-paced thriller keeps these well-developed characters moving…Foster’s series will continue to garner fans with this exciting installment.”
—Publishers Weekly on Trace of Fever
“Steamy, edgy, and taut.”
—Library Journal on When You Dare
Holding Strong
Lori Foster
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Dear Reader (#ulink_0db8af22-05a1-50dc-a8d8-6dd85f652b11),
My newest Ultimate series, with books that each stand alone but are connected by characters who know each other, involves mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters and falling in love. The books are not about fighting, but rather they are about high-level athletes fitting a monogamous, long-term relationship into the hectic schedule of training, travel, diet and competition.
The sport brings with it some hunky, capable alpha heroes so that all I need to do is add in the romance. Superfun for me and, given the reaction to the first two stories (Hard Knocks, an e-prequel novella, and No Limits, a novel), readers are enjoying them, too. I’m thrilled with the feedback I’ve gotten so far, and now I have my favorite couple yet!
Denver is big, strong, lethal in his skill, but he’s no match for Cherry once she decides she wants him. As always, they have several things they need to work out—all while Denver keeps up with his training. This is one of my sexiest books ever, but that’s because Denver is one of my sexiest heroes—something Cherry loves about him.
If you’re not familiar with MMA, it is a full-contact, full-body combat sport allowing the use of strikes from hands, feet, elbows and knees, along with grappling techniques (think wrestling, but with submissions using manipulation of joints like elbows, knees and ankles), both standing and on the ground. The UFC—Ultimate Fighting Championship—is the best-known organization; my fictional version is the SBC, or Supreme Battle Challenge. Many different disciplines are learned—Brazilian jujitsu, muay Thai, wrestling, boxing and kickboxing. You might read a term like a headlock, or an arm bar, or an ankle pick…just know that those are different terms used to describe the action, and given the scene, you should be able to get a visual. There won’t be much of that, though, because as I said, the core of these stories is romance—sexy, fun, one-on-one romance.
After No Limits released, I got (happily!) bombarded with reader letters and emails asking which of the fighters would be next. Now you know it’s Denver, and after him will be Stack. Armie, bless his kinky soul, will be last because let’s face it, Armie has some things to work out before he plays the role of romantic hero. But if you’d like a sneak peek into the plans, check the back of this book for a special “bonus scene” from No Limits hero Cannon’s point of view.
And of course, you are always welcome to reach out to me. I’m very active on most social media forums including Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads, and my email address is listed on my website at lorifoster.com (http://lorifoster.com/).
I hope you continue to enjoy the Ultimate series. Do let me know!
Happy reading to all,
Lori Foster
Contents
Cover (#u62cc0cf0-9dab-5783-8205-3f6a5517a368)
Back Cover Text (#uf331a433-5ad2-53de-9e97-41d14afc224e)
Praise (#ulink_d8ef27ef-0234-5ad3-94dc-82f4d5ef85fa)
Title Page (#udcc17a4e-3dc3-550e-b859-c7b5d5dfc0a9)
Dear Reader (#ulink_e525067c-69bf-5f9d-a17b-70e01eedcd93)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_53488e05-5cec-5bc7-b54b-5875f023ab10)
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_f309ffaa-e358-5717-8c06-a548006e11a4)
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_4295871e-5ede-5f2f-a9ba-a639e3ee9c5a)
CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_25a790d6-b8b1-532d-ae73-2aa5e48e649f)
CHAPTER FIVE (#ulink_b376f5e4-7339-57da-9f1e-29e1453cceb6)
CHAPTER SIX (#ulink_f886b61c-a928-5822-9280-a903f1a6f2b9)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINETEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE (#litres_trial_promo)
THE WEDDING (Bonus Scene) (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_bc1480e7-b560-5796-b01c-0ac9f44d71d7)
WATCHING HER LAUGH, seeing her tease and flirt, burned his ass big-time. He loved when she laughed and teased with him—not so much when it was with other guys.
And therein lay the problem.
He had a near-savage lust for her. When he looked at her, when he heard that carefree laugh, he felt dangerously close to losing it.
Contemplating decisions and possible mistakes, Denver Lewis sipped his beer. He should look away from her but knew he wouldn’t. She was all tits and ass and attitude in a petite frame, and God love the girl, she turned him on.
He’d avoided her, refused to be drawn in by her tempting smiles, and all in all given her the cold shoulder since determining they wouldn’t suit. He had no right to judge her for having fun elsewhere.
But knowing and accepting that as true didn’t talk him off the ledge. No, if anything it wound him tighter.
Damn, she looked good.
The shifting lights in the club played with her dark blond hair and the curves of her lush little body. His buddy Stack, another fighter, drew her into a fast dance. She didn’t refuse. Ever.
Cherry Peyton was always the life of the party.
The loud music competed with the furious drumming of Denver’s heart as he monitored her every move. The music’s wild tempo kept her body from touching Stack’s. They danced around each other and the rest of the crowd on the floor.
Every guy there made note of her, seeing her once and then taking a longer look. Her happiness, her laugh and that killer bod all combined for one hell of an impact on the male libido.
For over an hour, Denver watched her draw attention and smiles and, no doubt, sexual thoughts. He ignored other women who tried to get his attention, those who came up to him and propositioned him in modest and sometimes lewd ways.
Yeah, he wanted to get laid.
But he wanted Cherry, not anyone else.
It pissed him off that he couldn’t get her out of his head. He should have had her before decreeing theirs an acquaintance-only relationship, then maybe he could have some perspective when it came to seeing her with other men.
Then again, maybe not—because days after meeting her, he’d known sex wasn’t the only thing he wanted. He’d already begun to think of her as his, even though he hadn’t even kissed her yet.
If only his territorial tendencies didn’t clash so badly with her playful party-girl personality.
Seeing her accept her third glass of wine, he finished off his beer and called it quits.
At least on the alcohol.
He stewed while watching her indulge in several dances with too many different guys—never mind that they were all from their group, fighters that she, and he, knew well and trusted as friends. They’d all come down en masse to cheer on one of their own. Fighters from the rec center who sparred and coached together. Men he’d known forever.
Men who had befriended Cherry when she’d become roommates with Merissa, another fighter’s sister.
She was well and truly enmeshed in his life, friends with his friends, a part of their inner group, and if he wasn’t denying himself like a freaking masochist he’d be over there with them right now. She’d be laughing and joking with him. Dancing with him.
Treating him like everyone else.
That she was so well accepted in their circle made it even more impossible to stop thinking about her, because everywhere he went, he saw her.
Finally, after a robust dance that had her laughing aloud, Cherry began to fade. She dropped into a chair at a table with three other fighters and a few women.
Her gaze never once came his way—almost as if she knew where he was and avoided making eye contact with him.
Suited Denver fine. Mostly.
Damn it.
It wasn’t easy, but he made himself look away.
Tonight had been an eventful one. They’d all gotten to the local fight venue early, some to grab a bite before the event, others just to ensure they got the best seats. They all enjoyed watching Armie Jacobson fight.
